Welding Tips and Tricks

I noticed filler rods are labeled "for MIG and TIG" or "for Oxy Acetylene". I didn't notice this while at Air Gas, only noticed it once I got home.

Is there really a difference?

Thank you in advance!

Yes, oxy/acetylene rods are not very good for tig - bring them back for tig rods.

Mig and tig rods contain de-oxidisers- such as silicon and copper, required to aid weld quality. These elements aren't required for oxy. I'm not sure if tig rods can be used for oxy. But definitely not the other way (with any success)

If I remember on Monday, I'll run both possibly and see what happens. I was wondering myself so I may as well give it a go and post some pics. (Not great at oxy but what's a little more practice for science)

Tig rods work for OA, but so do coat hangers and fencing wire - so that's not really that special.

Also, If I recall correctly, OA rods are 45k vs the 70k of tig rods.

(That's a bonus ADD moment right there)

Oops, forgot there are both RG45 and RG60 oxy/acetylene rods...

I dumped most of my oxy rods, not much use for them. They were just normal mild steel, also quite ductile and as MinnesotaDave pointed out fencing wire, coat hangers and tig rods, any old shit works just as well . Definately different from tig rods. Tig rods don't bend anywhere near as easilly as oxy rods, also tig are copper coated to keep them from rusting and as already mentioned much stronger.

I have some 316 stainless OA rods that I tig with and they work fine.

exnailpounder wrote:I have some 316 stainless OA rods that I tig with and they work fine.

Good to know - I was referencing mild steel only since it's all I had experience with.

Someone once told me the filler material was the same for SMAW stainless and tig.

MinnesotaDave wrote:

exnailpounder wrote:I have some 316 stainless OA rods that I tig with and they work fine.

Good to know - I was referencing mild steel only since it's all I had experience with.

Someone once told me the filler material was the same for SMAW stainless and tig.

I didn't even realize they were OA until I took a good look at the tube they are in. I bought a bunch of stuff from a retired boilermaker and the 316 was in the mix but I used them and they worked great. He marked the tube with a sharpie but on close inspection i saw they weren't tig rods.

I currently do not have pictures to post but I will post them when I get home. I tried running 3/32" ER-70s-2 and 3/32" R-45. I noticed no difference in weld ability and the weld itself. Now I am not talking metallurgicaly because I can't but to the eye of me and my lack of experience and my feel for rod, I noticed no difference between tig and OA rods. But as I sit here and type this , the R45 is coated similarly to the 70s rod. Do all oxy-rods have this coating.

Here is a picture of the two side by side. I haven't done a whole lot of steel tig so I may not have done an excellent test but it is something.

R45 on the left and er70s2 on the right.

Nice tits

exnailpounder wrote:Nice tits

Why am I not surprised that you noticed that

Farmwelding wrote:

exnailpounder wrote:Nice tits

Why am I not surprised that you noticed that

It took you over 600 posts to get to know Jeff??

nope Lt badd I knew him awhile ago. He's got an easy personality to learn. He's very narrow in his topics of discussion: beer, welding, women, beer, welding, welding

Harris website does list W1060 (RG45) and W1200 RG60 for GTAW. I never have thought much about it but it is acceptable apparently to use these fillers with TIG. Personally my goto steel filler is ER70-S2 it's what I keep on hand for 4130 and works great for most steels. However if RG45 or RG60 meet your requirements for whatever your project is looks okay to use it for TIG. Out of curiosity I looked up what the difference in alloy make up of them is on Harris site.

ER70-S2 which is a triple deoxidized filler
Si - 0.45-0.7%
Mn - 0.9-1.4%
Ti - 0.05-0.15%
Al - 0.05-0.15%
P - 0.025%
C - 0.15%
S - 0.035%
Zr - 0.02-0.12%

ER70-S6 a favorite of some
Si - 0.8-1.15%
Mn - 1.4-1.85%
P - 0.025%
C - 0.06-0.15%
S - 0.035%

W1060 RG45
Si - 0.1%
Cu - 0.3%
Mn - 0.05%
Cr - 0.2%
Al - 0.02%
P - 0.035%
C - 0.08%
Mo - 0.2%
S - 0.04%
Ni - 0.3%

W1200 RG 60
Si - 0.1-0.35%
Cu - 0.3%
Mn - 0.9-1.4%
Cr - 0.2%
Al - 0.02%
P - 0.035%
C - 0.25%
Mo - 0.2%
S - 0.035%
Ni - 0.3%

Upon first glance I noticed oxy rods have more elements added to them. The Silicon % of oxy rods similar to ER70-S6 and it has aluminium added to it similar to S2. Oxy rods add copper to mix which is absent in ER70 mix along with nickel and Molybdenum.

Just my observations I will continue to use my ER70 but to each his own. You own some of this rod now burn it up practicing using it for art, lawn mower, gate repairs on farm, etc.

Farmwelding wrote:nope Lt badd I knew him awhile ago. He's got an easy personality to learn. He's very narrow in his topics of discussion: beer, welding, women, beer, welding, welding

Sounds about right from what I've seen

This is a sprue from my latest casting...or is it? Life is way too serious to take seriously guys.

You going to hand polish that?

Poland308 wrote:You going to hand polish that?

Already started

That was close Jeff. I was sitting in school not doing anything and reading on the forum. Minding my own business. What pops up... that picture. You've never seen me move that fast

I hope nobody's wife or girlfriend walks by when scrolling through this and if they do... well Jeff... You are going to have too answer a lot of questions.

What?? It's just a sprue. What did you think it was?

Hahha, nice casting nail.